Cylinder-piano.



. No. 659,465. Patented Oct. 9; I900.

A. CAPRA.

CYLINDER PIANO.

(Application filed Apr. 27, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Shoots-Sheet l.

kl Keane/13a ms NORRIS PETERs co, PHOTO LITHO.. wasuma'ron. u. c.

No. 659,465. Patontad Oct. 9, I900. A. CAPRA.

CYLINDER PIANO.

{Application filed. Apr. 27, 1900.)

2 sheds-sheet 2.

(No Model.)

YNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALESSANDRO GAPRA, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CYLINDER-PIANO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 659,465, dated October 9, 1900.

Application filed April 27,1900. Serial No. 14,566. \No model-J 1'0 LDZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALESSANDRO CAPRA, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and eoun ty of Philadelphia,State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Oylinder-Pianos,whichimprovement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention consists of an improved construction of a cylinderpiano whereby the same can be played continuously and the running down of the spring is indicated, the latter being accomplished by means of a device coupled With a convolution of the motorspring employed, so as to be moved in opposite directions by the winding and unwinding of said convolutions.

It further consists of a novel brake, a speedgoverning mechanism,and details of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth,

( and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a portion of a cylinder-piano embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a view of the brake mechanism at a right angle to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section on line as 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of a portion of the gear employed. Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of a clip employed for the dog of the alarm mechanism. Fig. 6 represents a section on line y y, Fig. 3.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, a designates a cylinder of a piano, the same having the circular rack b, which gears with the circular rack c, the latter being carried by the motor d, whose shaft 6 is suitably mounted on the frame or casing 00 of the instrument, said motor consisting of a coiled spring g, which is attached at one end to the rods f on the rack c and the other end to said shaft e by the screw 72. or other suitable device. Connected With the end of the shaft is the pinion j, with which meshes the pinion k, whose shaft is provided with the crank or other handle Z, the latter being accessible from the exterior of the casing of the instrument. On the shaft 6 is the ratchet n, with which engages the pawls m, the latter being mounted on the frame w, whereby the rotation of the shaft and gearingis permitted in one direction and prevented in the other direction.

10 designates a dog. having one end attached to an adjacent rod f of the motor and at its other end a nose q, adapted to engage the hammer or head 1', which is mounted on the spring-arm s and attached to the gong t, the latter being suitably supported on the part y of the frame of the instrument.

u designates a clip passing through the slot 1 in the spring g, said clip having also laterally-deflected lips or members wand 20, which rest freely on the portion of the. spring 9 about said slot 1, said vertical portion of the clippassing also through a slot in the. dogp, said portion being also provided with laterally-projecting pins or members 2, on which the dog 19 is rested, it being seen that the dog isfreely coupled with the adjacent convolution of the spring, so that said dog will be raised and lowered by the motion of saidconvolution. It will now be seen that when the spring is wound by the operation of the shaft 9, due to the crank-handle l, the said spring is contracted or wound up, whereby the dog 19 is removed from the path of the hammer r.

As the spring uncoils or unwinds its power.

is transmitted to the cylinder a, and thus the music is occasioned. As the spring expands and is about run down the nose of the dog will be in the path of the hammer r and trip the same, whereby the bell or gong will be struck, thus indicating the necessity of rewinding the spring, which being done prevents the stoppage of the music. On the casing mis mounted the crank-shaft 3, which is provided with the handle 4. On said shaft is the cam or eccentric 5, having in its periphery the groove 6, in which is seated the yoke 7, from which depends the rod 8, on

whose lower end is the brake-shoe 9, adapted to frictionally engage the pulley 10 on the shaft 11, said shaft meshing in any suitable manner with a train of gearing leading to the circular rack c.

It will be seen that by properly rotating the shaft 3 the shoe 9 may be raised from said friction-pulley 10, so as to permit the piano to play, or said shoe may be advanced upon said pulley and thus stop the playin On the shaft 11 is the sleeve 12, which carries with it the head 13, said sleeve being connected with a governor formed of the parts 14, 15; 16, 17, and 18, somewhat after the manner of that shown in the Patent No. 648,191, granted to me on the 24th of April, 1900.

Suitably mounted adjacent to the head 13 is the finger 19, to which is attached the limb 20, the latter having its end member 21 deflected and entering the slot 22 in the bellcrank lever 23, which is fulcrumed at 24:, and having its limb 25 connected with the rod 26, the upper end of said rod being accessible outside of the casin It will be seen that the govern or is adapted to move the sleeve 12 with it, and thus cause the head 13 to operate with more or less power and friction against the finger 19, and thus prevent the rapid motion of the shaft 11, and consequently of the mechanism of the instrument. When the proper speed is restored or obtained, the governor causes the head 13 to i move from the finger 19, and thus permits a more rapid rotation of the shaft 11, the efifect of which is evident. Should, however, the player desire to regulate the speed, it will be done by operating the rod 26, whereby the bell-crank lever 25 will cause motion of the finger 19 against the head 13 and the consequent regulation or governing of the speed of the shaft 11.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cylinder-piano, a motor-spring, a dog on the frame, and a suitably-supported alarm in combination with a device adapted to couple said dog with a convolution of said spring whereby the dog follows the motion of said convolution, and indicates the condition of said spring when run down or nearly so.

2. A clip, a dog, and a frame, said clip being formed with means for connecting it with a convolution of said spring and for movably supporting said dog,,whereby the nose of the latter is adapted to be removed from the path of the head of said alarm and to be restored thereto due to the motions of said convolution.

3. Aclip provided with laterally-projecting members, a spring which is connected with said clip by one of said members, a movable dog which is adapted to be engaged by the other member and an alarm'having a head adapted to be removed from and engaged with said dog due to the motion of the convolutions in said spring.

4. A spring having an opening in its convolutions, a clip in said spring, a movable dog on the frame and an alarm, said clip having 'a member which engages with said convolutions and a member which engages with the dog, the latter being adapted to berremoved from the striking mechanism of said alarm and to be placed in the path of the same.

5. A cylinder and gearing in combination with a governor whose shaft is engaged with said gearing, a head connected with said governor, a finger adjacent to said head, a cranklever having one limb connected with said finger and a hand-operated rod attached to the other limb of said lever.

6. A cylinder, gearing, a shaft engaged with said gearing, a friction-pulley on said shaft, a brake-shoe, a carrier for said shoe, an opcrating-handle for said carrier, a governor on said lever and a hand-operated rod attached to the other limb of said lever.

ALESSANDRO CAPRA.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, A. N. DU BOIS. 

